Today on The Audio Edition Doug and I discuss the legal age limit of sexual consent (you’ll see what I mean), the direction of Jamie Foxx’s career, the rumours of a Sound of Music re-make, more of our thoughts on the Memoirs of a Geisha contoversy, the new Believe it or Not project and a couple of things more!
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I just wanted to comment on the whole memoirs of a geisha topic. First off, I completely agree with both John and Doug, and those of you who have said that as long as the actor/actress is capable of bringing a character to life, and is able to make you believe that what you are seeing is a real person, not just an actor, nationality shouldn’t be such an issue. After all, many American actors have played British roles (e.g. Bridget Jones-Rene Zellweger) and vice versa.
However, I can understand (although I definitely don’t agree with most of the insensitive, threatening, aggressive and downright racist comments, I have read over the net from both sides of the argument ) that it may upset a lot of Japanese people to not see Japanese actors portraying Japanese roles. From one perspective, it’s always nice to see your fellow countrymen doing well in Hollywood. Secondly, it is their culture and heritage that is being displayed, so it’s understandable that they would want it depicted authentically and faithfully. I also understand why some Chinese people would be upset seeing Chinese actors playing Japanese characters, due to past conflicts with Japan. Nonetheless, it is not right to use what has happened in the past as an excuse to be ignorant, racist, narrow-minded and tactless. I say that I understand both perspectives, because I am a Greek-Cypriot and if someone was making a film about Greek people, I would want them played by Greek actors. If say for example, a Turkish actor was playing a Greek role, how would I feel? (The Cyprus- Turkey conflict is still ongoing, as Cyprus still remains divided, with the Northern part being occupied by Turkey) I guess I would be upset. For two reasons, like I mentioned before it’s nice to see your fellow countrymen-women doing well in the film industry (a tough one to get into).Makes you feel proud in a strange way. Secondly, you want your culture and heritage to be portrayed faithfully, as many people from all walks of life may be seeing this film. It may also be their first introduction to the history of your country. However, I wouldn’t condemn the film just because the nationality of the actors isn’t right. I would see it, try and enjoy it, and pass judgement solely on the basis of the script, directing, acting etc. When it comes down to it, there is only one race, the human race! I apologise for the long rant, I did not intend for it to be this long! :)
For what it’s worth, I most certainly *would* see “The Godfather” in the cinema, because I did that very thing when it got a re-release here eight years ago.
Hey Richard yeah I’m Scottish. Currently living in Dundee. Like you I’m my site’s Man in the UK.
Cheers for standing up for me Stuart…you Scottish?
At least I got a mention…sniff.
Nagy, I can never forgive your people for raping my sheep, I know it was centuries ago, but I just can’t. The stories say they were never the same again and were spoiled for the rest of us…You however, with jokes like that, I can!
What’s with the Shrek teaser? Oh…you guys!
Stop mocking Scotsmen you sonsabitches, lol! :)
Thanks for the mention guys :D
As for old movies, there is some demand for that. My local multiplex used to do a thing every tuesday where they’d play a classic movie in one of the smaller screens. I went to go see Back To The Future and it was packed out. Getting a chance to see one of my favourite childhood movies EVER on a big screen was just amazing, it geeked me out to the max.
I don’t get the Fox bandwagon. What was so great about his role in Collateral? Then again, what was great about that movie?
You faacking maniacs; you’re gonna have a swarm of pissed off, vengeful ninjas absailing into your homes and kung fuing your asses for that one.
LOL
Good show guys, I enjoyed it. Could do with a couple of quick reviews each episode though, as it’s interesting to hear your views on current releases.
Congrats to Conks.
i havent listened to the show yet, but three people who at least in their cases prove their race isnt a prerequisite to a convincing performance of someone who is another race:
Ben Kingsley
John Turturro
Benicio Del Toro
I notice that Doug says the following phrases often…
1)Aboot (I think this is just the canadian in him though)
2)You wan know what?
3)JOHN: What rating do you give this movie?
DOUG: . . . . . . . . .
I love when Doug does these. Keep them coming Doug!
Conks, I tip my hat off to you. Congrats. “I lay down fresh palm leaves for you, as you enter Jerusulem”
1) Congrats to Darren Connelly.
2) Don’t feel too bad about the MIA Wed. edition. On Monday’s edition it was at 48 seconds over 30 minutes.
3)”Know what I mean?” didn’t the late Jim Varney (Ernest) used to say that?
4) Memoirs….I guess there are still some people out there, then, who hate Charleton Heston because he once played Moses and later Ben Hur. Or the late Anthony Quinn who played not only a Greek, but an Arab (Lawrence Of Arabia) as well. Everything John and Doug said, I agree- which is also one of the reason I gave John the heads up on this a few days ago.
5) Jamie Foxx. Just let’s all be happy he won’t do something again like…Bait, Held Up…and Booty Call . Let’s also hope he doesn’t put his foot in his mouth again in interviews like he did when that crud called ‘Stealth’ flopped. You remember:
https://www.themovieblog.com/archives/2005/08/jamie_foxx_on_his_role_in_stealth.html
6) Yes, they are talking remake of Sound Of Music. I’m…not intrested. Yes, there are some theatres who do book older films to play on big screens. In my area, they are on early morning matinee weekends, a dollar in the mall’s cheap theatre, and not announced in the newspaper. You have to go to the theatre to get the flyer to know what’s what.
Speaking of remakes…guess what?
Here’s the latest in TV show to Movie Screen, and actually, I don’t think this is terrible, because it sounds like it will be played seriously as an action-drama. The word at the end of this link should provide the clue:
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=filmNews&storyID=2005-12-02T074333Z_01_KRA227750_RTRIDST_0_FILM-EQUALIZER-DC.XML
-Sealer out.
Doug raises an interesting point. In that as long as the actor can suck you in, immerse you, and make you belive they are the character they’re playing, race doesn’t matter.
2 weeks ago I saw a college production of “The Miracle Worker”. A play that tells the story of Helen Keller, a blind and deaf author who wrote many novels. Before the show I learned that the actress playing this young white girl is Japanese. My first thought was “Why the heck did the casting director cast a Japanese actress for a white role? Surely they could have found an actress that can look the role and play it well.”
But when Helen Keller appeared onstage, I was proved wrong. This girl sucked me in, immersed me, and made me belive she was who she was. And since Helen Keller is diffrent that a normal person because of her disabilities, that fact that the actress was Japanese even furthered the diffrences of the character. Every other actor had white skin, blonde hair, and spoke in a southern accent. But Helen Keller had black hair, asian, and was blind and deaf.
Anyone can play any character, as long as the audience belives in them.